Taman Bukit Angsana residents say a 24-hour restaurant has been flouting council laws by placing tables and chairs on the street and blocking the back alley with kitchen equipment. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
Residents in Taman Bukit Angsana, Cheras in Selangor, are unhappy that Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) has not addressed their grievances despite numerous complaints over the past two years.
As such, some 20 residents called on Balakong MCA coordinator Tan Chee Teong and Bangi MCA youth chief Chung Wui Fah to join them on a neighbourhood walkabout so that they could see the issues for themselves.
Present at this walkabout were members of MCA’s Crisis Relief Squad and Melvin Lam, chief executive officer of Act Now, which is an app that allows the public to complain about problems in their housing areas.
Tham says residents have made numerous complaints over the past two years.
Speaking on behalf of the group was resident Fabian Tham, 70, who presented a long list of complaints to Tan and Chung.
He said the main problem spots were in the commercial area of Jalan Angsana 1 and Jalan Angsana 2. Tham highlighted that residents were irked over the actions of a 24-hour restaurant operator who flouted council laws by placing tables and chairs on the street as well as blocking the back alley with kitchen equipment and unused electrical appliances.
“Bags of rubbish are also being placed along the street by litterbugs.
“Though KDEB Waste Management has cleared them away, they reappear the next day.
“As a deterrent, we want the council to issue warning letters to shopowners where the rubbish bags are found,” said Tham.
Another resident, Ho Hoong Fatt, 70, said some had also expressed concern that some light industries operating in the area might be discharging toxic waste into the area’s perimeter drains.
“We want MPKj to test the water in the drains,” he said.
Within the housing area itself, residents said the trees along Jalan Angsana 2A needed trimming.
“Some months ago, three cars that were parked along this road were damaged by falling branches,” said Ho.
Residents pointed out that the field at Lorong Angsana 3 also needed an upgrade.
“The badminton court, swings and park benches are in a state of disrepair.
“One part of the field was turned into a fruit and vegetable patch but this area has become so overgrown that it resembles a mini jungle and is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and reptiles.
“The field is also waterlogged and filled with holes,” they complained.
During the walkabout, a resident of Taman Suria Jaya – which is adjacent to Taman Bukit Angsana –and who did not want to be identified, said noisy compressors at a food processing factory behind his house in Jalan Bunga Melur 2 had been causing him sleepless nights.
Tan urges MPKj to look into the complaints of Taman Bukit Angsana residents in Cheras.
After learning of the residents’ plight, Tan and Chung urged MPKj to address the residents’ complaints.
“The residents said they had complained through official channels but were given the runaround by the local council telling them to get in touch with other agencies to deal with the problem.
“Instead of thinking about raising assessment fees, the council should address residents’ complaints,” said Tan.
“This area’s elected representatives should also pay more attention because of the many issues that need to be addressed,” added Chung.
When contacted, MPKj councillor Dickson Tan said he viewed the complaints seriously and would investigate the issues.
However, he said checks with the council showed that no complaints from this area were received over the past two years.
He advised the public to go through the right channels, such as MPKj’s eAduan portal, instead of using private apps by other parties.
“When it comes to parking and obstruction issues, MPKj’s enforcement team will usually respond within a week,” said Tan.
